Envelop



' (No Model.)

M. L. HINOI-IMAN. ENVELOP.

No. 598,290. Patented Feb. 1,1898.

WI TJV ESSES I JV V'EJV TOR THE Noam: PETERS co, PHOTO-LITNO., WASHINGTON, n, cy

NlE STATES MORTIMER L. HINOHMAN, OF BROOKLYN, NE\V YORK.

ENVELOP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 598,290, dated February 1, 1898.

Application filed November 16, 1896. fierial No. 612,302. (No model.)

V useful Improvements in Envelops; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in envelope, and has more particular relation to safety-envelops, whereby any unlawful tampering or opening of the same-can be detected.

The invention consists of certain novel constructions, as will be hereinafter more particularly set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings,forming part of this specification,Figure 1 represents a rear elevation of an envelop constructed according to my invention, the flap of the same being extended. Fig. 2 represents a rear elevation of the same with the sealing-flap secured down in position, and Fig. 3 represents a rear elevation of a newspaper-wrapper constructed according to my invention.

A in the drawings represents the body proper of the envelop, B the sealing-flap, and O the extended sealing-flap. The body portion A of the envelop is of any ordinary construction and is formed along the'line that the edge of the sealing-flap B will occupy when secured down over said envelop with a plurality of perforations at. These lines of perforations a terminate at some distance from each other in the center and extend upward to the edge of the envelop, thus leaving a central unperforated space a. The lower corners a formed by this peculiar arrangement of the perforations, are cut entirely through. Two lines of perforations 03 a are formed in the body of the envelop, so as to connect the inner ends of each of the lines a of perforations and the middle portions of said lines of perforations in such a way as to make triangular-shaped forms or patterns in the paper bounded by perforations and intended as detectors or indications of steaming or opening the envelop or wrapper in any manner except by tearing, and which will readily show such tampering or unlawful opening when resealed and opened in the ordinary way, as intended.

. The securing-flap B of the envelop is of the usual construction, with the exception that it is provided at its upper end with the extended flap O. The edge of said flap B, as well as that of said flap 0, is provided with the usual glue or mucilage, whereby it may be secured in position. When the envelop is to be closed, the flap 0 is first moistened and doubledinward and secured to the flap B. The said flap B is then secured down in position in the usual manner. By this peculiar operation the flap B is not secured to the envelop-body A at the center, but a sufiTicient portion is left loose to permit the finger-nail 'or a portion of the finger to slip under the same to grasp it toopen the envelop. As the said flap B is pulled back the portion of the body A secured thereto tears along the line of perforations a, which communicate with the cut portions (1 that start the tearing action. When the flap B is fully opened, the whole upper portion of the envelop-body has been torn away and remains sticking to said flap B, thus indicating that the envelop has been opened and preventing its again being closed, because there is no portion of the body to which the flap can be secured. The perforations a are placed sufficiently near together to cause them when pulled upon to separate, and thus indicate that the envelop has been tampered with or opened.

The lines a of perforations are an additional safeguard against unlawful interference with the contents of the envelop by pro viding triangular pieces of paper which are sensitive to moisture by reason of being surrounded by perforations and designed to act as indicators or detectors of irregular transmission or handling when the envelop is finally placed in the hands of the person or personsto whom it is addressed. The indicators or detectors, so called, will form into irregular folds or wrinkles when the flap of the envelop or wrapper has been opened surreptitiously by the action of steam, chemicals, or other agencies and has been rescaled.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that by the employment of my improved envelop or wrapper correspondence or other communications are fully protected against any unlawful examination while en route through the mail, as any attempt to open the envelop or wrapper will so tear or injure or change the appearance of the same that any fraudulent, unauthorized, or unlawful opening thereof or theft therefrom may be easily discovered when the letter reaches its destination.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. A safety envelop or Wrapper comprising a body portion and a sealing-flap, the former being provided with lines of perforations along the edge of said flap when the envelop is sealed and with lines of perforations at right angles to the first-named lines of perforations, said sealingflap having an ungummed portion intermediate the lines of perforations along its edge, substantially as specified. I

2. A safety envelop or wrapper comprising a body portion and a sealing-flap, the former being provided with lines of perforations along the edge of the sealing-flap when the envelop is sealed, with other lines of perforations at right angles to the first-named lines of perforations and with slits uniting said angularly-disposed lines of perforations and the sealing-flap being provided with an ungummed portion intermediate the adjacent extremities of the lines of perforations along its edge, substantially as specified.

3. In a safety envelop or wrapper the combination With a sealing-flap, of a body portion connected to the same and provided with a plurality of perforations that extend in a line along the position the edge of the sealingfiap will occupy when secured to the body to a point near the middle of said body and then up to the upper edge of said body, thus leaving a central unperforated portion, and also a plurality of perforations extending across the corners formed by said before-mentioned perforations, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

MORTIMER L. HINOHMAN.

Witnesses:

AUGUST 0. DIESTELHORST, JOHN M. WELLBROCK. 

